mention

1 of 2

noun

men·​tion ˈmen(t)-shən How to pronounce mention (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of citing or calling attention to someone or something especially in a casual or incidental manner
There was hardly a mention of the plan's possible dangers.
2
: formal citation (see citation sense 3) for outstanding achievement
The journalist received special mention for her reportage on the recent advances in cancer research.

mention

2 of 2

verb

mentioned; mentioning ˈmen(t)-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce mention (audio)

transitive verb

: to make mention of : refer to
also : to cite for outstanding achievement
mentionable adjective
mentioner noun
Phrases
not to mention
: not even yet counting or considering : and notably in addition
a proposal that's risky and expensive, not to mention unethical

Examples of mention in a Sentence

Noun In her speech, she carefully avoided any mention of her costar. There was barely a mention of the plan's possible dangers. The mere mention of blood makes me ill. I get nervous at the mention of his name. Her contributions deserve a mention. One other issue deserves special mention. Verb She's never mentioned anything to me about her husband. I get nervous every time his name is mentioned. They mentioned him by name. I believe I mentioned the problem to you last week. Most history books don't even mention the event. As previously mentioned, his proposal has been widely criticized. He fails to mention, however, the seriousness of the crime. She mentioned that she would be out of the office the following day.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Some have even taken to dissecting the song down to specific lyrics, like her quick mention of having to quit her improv troupe. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024 During the debate, Trump responded to Harris’ mention of his infamous 1989 full-page ad in The New York Times calling for the execution of the men, who were teenagers at the time. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
On the surface, everything about a Fall Classic showdown between Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge (not to mention Mookie Betts and Juan Soto) is good for baseball. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2024 Also mentioned in Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well, the pasta’s fillings depend on the town where they are eaten. Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mention 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mention.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English mencioun, from Anglo-French mencion, from Latin mention-, mentio; akin to Latin meminisse to remember, ment-, mens mind

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mention was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mention

Cite this Entry

“Mention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mention. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mention

1 of 2 noun
men·​tion ˈmen-chən How to pronounce mention (audio)
: a brief or passing reference to something

mention

2 of 2 verb
mentioned; mentioning ˈmench-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce mention (audio)
: to refer to or speak about briefly
mentionable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on mention

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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